BASF Hosts 19th Annual Diversity Issues in Higher Education Conference

• Conference will explore the power of STEAM roles to fuel the future of diversity, equity, and inclusion
• First higher education conference in American Conference on Diversity history to be hosted at a corporation
• Pat Rossman, Chief Diversity Officer of BASF Corporation, to give keynote address

FLORHAM PARK, NJ, OCTOBER 23, 2019 – The American Conference on Diversity (ACOD), in collaboration with BASF, will hold the 19th Annual Diversity Issues in Higher Education Conference – “It Takes S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) to Fuel the Future of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” – on Friday, November 15 at BASF North American headquarters in Florham Park, New Jersey.

“This conference has become one of New Jersey’s premier events to engage both the academia and corporate sectors in tackling the complexities of diversity, equity and inclusion as well as providing pathways towards more just and inclusive institutions,” said Elizabeth Williams-Riley, President and CEO of American Conference on Diversity.        

The keynote speaker will be Patricia Rossman, Chief Diversity Officer of BASF Corporation, who has more than 20 years of HR and communications experience in the chemical, technology and service industries. Rossman leads the BASF North America Diversity + Inclusion Council and serves on the Board of Trustees of the American Conference on Diversity.

“At BASF, we value the differences in our workforce as they are the key to the success of our business,” Rossman said. “We want the talent inside of BASF to reflect the talent market in North America. We need people with diverse backgrounds, perspectives and experiences in the S.T.E.A.M. fields to anticipate and meet market needs in new ways.”

The full-day conference will feature dynamic speakers, several breakout sessions addressing critical diversity challenges in academia, the community and workplaces, as well as a student panel focused on the complexities of diversity, inclusion and equity. The conference is open to college students as well as corporate and community diversity, equity, and inclusion leaders. Conference rates are $65 for the general public and $35 for students. The deadline to register is November 8. Please visit the event website to learn more and to sign up.  

About BASF

BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has more than 20,000 employees in North America and had sales of $19.7 billion in 2018. For more information about BASF’s North American operations, visit www.basf.com.

At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. The approximately 122,000 employees in the BASF Group work on contributing to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio is organized into six segments: Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, Surface Technologies, Nutrition & Care and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of around €63 billion in 2018. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchange in Frankfurt (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the U.S. Further information at www.basf.com.

About the American Conference on Diversity

The American Conference on Diversity (ACOD) was founded in 1948 as the National Conference of Christians and Jews (NCCJ). Today the programs, services, and initiatives of the American Conference on Diversity are among the most critical work focused on creating a more inclusive society. ACOD is dedicated to building more inclusive and just schools, workplaces, and communities through awareness, education and advocacy. It is the unfinished business of living in a highly diverse nation: educating and empowering our next generation of leaders, enhancing our schools and workplaces to create inclusive communities. The American Conference on Diversity builds on a historic mission and creates programs and activities relevant and vital to 21st Century life. It is a journey we can all take together. Visit www.AmericanConferenceonDiversity.org to learn more.